Congratulations to all of our volunteers, donors and supporters on helping us get another 3 families housed in April!

Early in April, this wonderful mother and her daughter (pictured to the right) got into their new home with the help of all of the amazing volunteers and supporters of Family Promise SSC. We were also fortunate enough in April to be able to help house 2 great families of 4 pictured below. One of the 2 families found housing in North Port and the other, with the help of our case managers, was able to get in to a longer term housing program at Catholic Charities to get some more time to become stable and get back on their feet. Thank you Catholic Charities! We love all of our partners!

A Family Promise Homecoming

A story from Family Promise National

Ten years ago, Sarai Williams walked into the Family Promise of Greater Denver with a newborn baby. She had been living in a shelter that only allowed a 30-day stay, and, quickly approaching the end of her month there, she spotted the Affiliate on a resource list.

The visit changed her life forever. For the next two months, the staff helped Williams sign up for food stamps and other benefits she was entitled to as an unemployed single mom. Williams says that her time in the program was special because of the kindness of the congregational volunteers, who always made sure that her daughter had clothes, diapers and formula, as well as a crib for every weekly stay in the host congregations. “The congregations and volunteers did so much for us,” she remembers. “They took care of us.”

Today, Williams is still praising the role that congregations and volunteers play in helping the guests in the Family Promise program. But now, she views the role from a different perspective, as a part-time case manager for the Affiliate she once called home, Family Promise of Greater Denver.

Williams, who began her job in December, traveled a long way to return to the organization that launched her on her path to self-sufficiency. After she secured housing, she enrolled in college. After changing majors, she focused on a career in social work, where she would be able to give back.

With her degree in hand, Williams applied for the case manager job with FP of Greater Denver. During the interview, Williams shared her story with Executive Director Jolynn Snyder.

“Sarai brings such a depth to the Affiliate,” says Snyder. “None of the other staff members have been homeless; none of us are single moms. She shows our guests what is possible when we can overcome barriers. She has also participated in several speaking engagements, which helps bring the issue of homelessness into the community spotlight.”

Her experience also helps inspire the guest families. “Many of our guests find it difficult to believe that they can go to college,” she says. “But my story shows that it’s possible.”

Williams is thrilled to be giving back to the organization that helped her and her daughter, now 10, regain their independence. “I’ve brought my daughter to the Day Center, and she knows that Family Promise is the organization that helped us when she was a baby, when we needed a place to stay,” she says. “It’s just so wonderful to be here.”

Calling all Volunteers! Please join us on Sunday, May 19th to celebrate all of our families successes that are a result of the wonderful work you do! Several of our families will be in attendance because they wish to express their gratitude for the help, kindness and compassion they were shown by all of you! Please click
here to register by May 10th if you are coming so we know how many to expect. There will be some special gifts and lots of Love!

Current Needs

The Day Center and our families are currently in need of:

Cleaning supplies (ALL) Floor, toilet, windows

Laundry Detergent

Hand soap, pump style

Disinfectant wipes

Hand Sanitizer and Spray

paper plates

FPSSC Stats

2018

58 families served: 104 children and 168 people total

Access Point - 15 families: 28 children and 41 people total

Emergency Shelter - 23 families: 36 children and 65 people total

Bridge Housing - 14 families: 21 children and 37 people total

Open Door - 6 families: 19 children and 25 people total

Dates to Remember

Volunteer Training: 5-14-2019 at the Day Center, 4-5:30 PM - This training is for anyone who wants to volunteer with their congregation doing meals, hosting and overnights. All volunteers must go through training. Please RSVP to Allisa at aoleary@familypromisessc.org to ensure adequate space is available.

Coordinator Meeting: 5-14-2019 at Christ United Methodist Church, 5:30-6:30 PM - This meeting is for Coordinators at the Host and Support Churches.

Home Sweet Home Picnic - Volunteer Appreciation Event: 5-19-2019, 12 Noon - 2 pm. All volunteers who will be attending must RSVP.
Please click here to register. This picnic is our way of saying thank you to all our wonderful volunteers!
And some of our past families will be joining us that day to help us say thank you.

From the Director

Thank you for all you do and bless you all!

Jennifer Fagenbaum, Executive Director

jenniferfagenbaum@familypromisessc.org

941-497-9881 ext. 106

Special Thanks for funding support in 2019 for our programs to:

Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Epiphany Cathedral CCW

Evalyn Sadlier Jones Foundation

First Christian Church

Grace United Methodist Men's Club

Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Club

Kates Foundation

Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxilliary

Plantation Community Foundation

Quinn Charitable Foundation

Sarasota County

Trinity United Methodist Church

United Way of South Sarasota County

Venice Community Orchestra

Venice Golf & Country Club

Venice Presbyterian Church

Women's Fellowship VUCC

Women's Sertoma Club of Venice

VOLUNTEER

If you would like to become part of the family, please visit our website to send us your information and we will be in touch about volunteer opportunities.